Method of electric commutation and a fluid electric commutator



- (No Model.) f 2 shets-sneet 1.

0. E. EMERY. METHOD OF ELECTRIC GOMMUTATION AND FLUID ELECTRIC GOMMUTATOR.

No. 511,328. Patented 1300.26, 1893.

M E 3 v Q 2, Fag. Z.

5 xi a,- Wfizwmw, Ina/67,50};

QMxYxW.

n4: NATIONAL umoennrlmc com-Luv,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, O. B. EMBRY. METHOD OF ELECTRIC GOMMUTATION AND FLUID ELECTRIC GOMMUTATOR. No. 511,328. Patented De0.26, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EHERY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF ELECTRIC COMMUTATlON AND A FLUID ELECTRlC COMMUTATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,328, dated December 26, 1893.

Application tiled December 28,1892. Serial No. 456,589. (No modeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. EMERY, of Brooklyinin thecountyof Kings and State of New York, (oflice New York city,) have invented a new and Improved Method of Electric Commutation and a Fluid Electric Commutator; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

I have discovered that if two pipes electrically connected like the brushes of a dynamo or motor to be arranged to discharge conducting fluid upon the sections of a moving commutator, the fluid may, with proper details to secure circulation, be made to take the place of the commutator brushes and thus make it possible to use higher potentials than with ordinary brushes and commutator sections. Heavier currents may also be carried through each pair of fluid brushes than has heretofore been practicable with brushes of ordinary construction.

The invention consists in general of a method of commutation in which the current is conveyed from the conductors to the commutator sections by means of a circulating conducting fluid.

The invention further consists in the special construction of the commutator sections and of various otherdetails and combinations required to circulate the conducting fluid so as to separate the two conductors of the electric circuit and to make the apparatus as a whole practically operative.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan View of an ordinary commutator with diagrammatic representation of the operation of fluid brushes. Fig. 3 is part in a vertical elevation and in part a vertical central section of a dynamo or motor with special fluid commutators in position. Fig. 4 is a central cross section of one branch of the fluid commutator with diagrammatic vanes. Fig. 5 is a modification showing a central cross section of the two parts of a double fluid commutator of different diameters with diagrammatic vanes. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 7 is a central cross section showing one method of constructing the fluid commutator. Fig. 8 refers to Fig. 7 and shows the method of securing the ends of the vanes. Fig. 9 shows on a small scale a vertical elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, in connection with tanks and pumps for the circulation of the conducting fluid. Fig. 10 is a cross section illustrating diagrammatically a form of pump which maybe employed. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically a developmentof the arrangement of vanes employed in Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is in part a vertical elevation and in part a vertical section of the modifications necessary when the armature is stationary and the field and fluid brushes are revolved. Fig. 14 represents a modification of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 represents a fluid electric switch or cut-out.

If in Figs. 1 and 2 it be considered that A represents the commutator of a bipolar dynamo or motor and a and co represent nozzles for the discharge of fluid upon the surface of such commutator in a direction parallel with the axis, or a little backward, viz., against the direction of motion, it will be found that if the two nozzles a and a. are insulated from each other, except through the line, but are electrically connected through conductors b and b in the same way as ordinary brushes, the fluid will form electric connectionsbetween the nozzles and the commutator segments nearly opposite to each other, thus causing the armature and commutator to be moved by the electric current, the same as if ordinary brushes were employed. With this particular arrangement necessarily the surface of the commutator becomes wetted and there is a risk of a short circuit being established between the two fluid brushes through a surface film or through portions of the discharged fluid. The risk is less with a disk commutator running at such speed that. the fluid will be thrown off by centrifugal force. Figs. 1 and 2 show, however, in a diagrammatic way the general application of the principle.

To overcome the d ifiiculties abovesuggested 1 preferably make the commutator sections form part of the vanes of a structure which as a whole may be called a commutator, resembling in its general features an ordinary turbine. \Vith this form of apparatus I am able to use a continuous running stream of fluid which is not sprayed or seriously broken up until the commutation has been performed, the contacts being made, so to speak, with the sides of the stream instead of the end of the same. If in Fig. 1 the nozzles a and a were arranged at right angles to the surface of the commutator A and forced down close thereon,very little fluid could escape and the contact would be practically made with the end of the column, but the little fluid that did escape might pass out in unexpected (1irections in the form of a film and short circuit the adjacent sections and perhaps the brushes. It is not probable that the nozzles could be forced down upon the commutator sufliciently tight to prevent some leakage, so it is probable that at least a film would be formed like that of oil in ordinary lubrication. By, however, keeping the nozzle back from the commutator, so that a stream of conducting fluid issues with velocity, such stream may be directed upon the commutator in such direction that it will pass off the ends thereof and not necessarily form a film to short circuit the sections or brushes. To further prevent the formation of a film, I so construct the commutator that the jet of conducting fluid will enter successively separate passages like the buckets of a turbine. Preferably the passages aremade of greater area than that of the stream of conducting fluid, and I arrange that such stream will pass through the passages substantially in a right line. The turbine would in general be constructed of non-conducting material with a conducting lining or plate in each passage connected to an armature coil. Preferably, however, only the faces of the vanes, or the partitions between the passages, are provided with conducting surfaces severally connected to the coils and such vanes are turned backward and so shaped that a given point in the stream will gradually traverse the surface of the vane as the vane revolves and the fluid move across the space which the vane traverses. In this way contact between the stream and the vane is assured without breaking up the stream or greatly changing its shape. Generallya construction in the form of a turbine of the outward flow type is best adapted for the purpose. Preferably also I make the commutator in two parts,or practically use two commutators, one for each armature terminal, which expression implies that the electric terminals of an armature are at the brushes.

Fig. 3 shows the principal parts of a dynamo or motor provided with a double fluid commutator, B, 0, each part of which is shown in section. D is the axle of the dynamo; E and E are portions of the supporting frames and I F an operating pulley. G and G are crossis one pole of a horseshoe field magnet, the corresponding pole toward the observer being removed, and I a section of the connecting yoke. In said Fig. 3, 0 represents a disk of non-conductin g material which forms one side of each fluid commutator B or O, and (1 represents a non-conducting ring of the same outer diameter forming the other side of each commutator. Between the ring and disk of each commutator or each part of a double commutator, vanes c, e, e, are arranged in the general form shown by the curved lines in the cross section of a commutator shown in Fig. 4:, in which ais, as before, a nozzle through which fluid received from a pipe, f, is discharged, preferably in a downward direction, as shown. When a double commutator B, O, is used with two sections B and O as explained, there is for bipolar machines but one nozzle and there fore but one fluid brush for each part of the doublecommutator, or, as in terms stated above, for each armature terminal, considering each terminal to be at brushes of like nect direct to the line and the shunt coils considered part of the line, but in the drawings such conductor b' is shown turned down as if connected to one end of the field coils and the other end of the field coils at b is connected to the line forming in this case a series-wound machine.

The vanes turn backward from the inlet to the discharge relatively to the direction of their motion for the same reason that they are turned backward in an ordinary turbine, which is so that the stream will meet the surface of the vanes smoothly and the fluid not be spattered or the stream broken up.

Referring to Fig. 12, if a stream of fluid from nozzle 0, were discharged at a certain velocity and any one of the vanes 9 shown by the diagonal lines were at the same time moving upward with the same velocity, evidently the resultant of the two motions would be a diagonal with forty-five degrees'inclination and the stream touching one of the vanes at the inlet would in moving forward the width of the vane or to the right keep in contact with such vane without disturbing the column, since the vane is at thesame time moving upward (as drawn) with the same velocity. For different speeds of jets and vanes different inclinations would be required and as with turbines the jet itself may be delivered to the vanes at an inclination shown by the dotted line j which will permit the vane to be run much faster than the jet.

The vanes e, e, e, &c., Fig. 4, are preferably to be constructed in part of conducting and part of non-conducting material. The principal ICC IIO

- course be insulated from each other at the ends and separately connected to the armature coils. An improved arrangement is to make the inner edges of the segments where the fluid is received of conducting material connected severally to the coils of the armature and the outer edges of non-conducting material. A central secticn of such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 7 with ring (1 shown behind. The surface of the side plate 0 and ring d of the commutator, Fig. 3, is provided with angularly arranged grooves shown in Fig. 7 by diagonal parallel lines. In these grooves the edges of the vanes e, e, are set. A cross section of one of these grooves in plate a with part of a vane e in place is shown in Fig. 8. In the inner portion of the grooves, or that toward the axle, and extending across from plate 0 to ring dis set a piece of conducting metal (2' of proper width at the two edges to fit the grooves and hollowed out on its working face to the proper curve to receive the jet of conducting fluid. The outer edge of each of these pieces is provided with a tongue or equivalent connecting with a groove in a non-conducting piece 6 which at its ends fits in the groove in the plate 0 and ring d. This non-conducting portion may or may not be so curved as to continue the curve of the working face. In Fig. 7 the proper curve is only given to the metal or conducting part of the Vane e and the remainder of the vane formed of the non-conducting portion 6 is to be made of such shape as to act like a centrifugal pump to throw the fluid off centrifugally. ct represents a nozzle, from which the stream is issuing, and part of such stream is shown engaging withapointof one of the vanes and the other part impinging near the center of another vane. In this position two of the coils are receiving current through the stream of fluid, or in effect one coil is short circuited, the action being the same as that of an ordinary commutator when the brush is wider than the space between the commutator sections, as is usually the case. It will be seen, however, that as the vanes move from left to right in the direction of the arrow, the short circuiting will cease and the stream of conducting fluid impinge only on the conducting section below it, thereby putting the same in electric communication with one of the coils of the armature only. The same process is repeated with each vane as it passes, and as soon as the fluid is shut off from one vane by the interception of the stream by the next, the mass of fluid thus cut off moves on with the velocity already imparted to it and may be still further accelerated by the action of the outer portion of the adjoining vane, acting like the vane of a centrifugal pump as previously referred to. Each of the metallic portions 6 of a vane is provided with a connection 9 preferably of circular section which runs through the side plate 0 and is extended to connect to one of the coils of the armature. In Fig. 3 a number of conductors, designated g, each the extension of a connection, 6 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, connects first to the sections of an ordinary commutator, A, from which the armature leads, g, are connected to the coils H of the armature. The object of the commutator A is to permit the use of ordinary brushes, particularly in the case of a motor, for use to start the armature up to speed with current through such brushes before the fluid is turned on to the fluid commutator. Itmay he omitted without affecting the operation of the fluid commuting system. The connections g to the projections g, for the part of the fluid commutator at. the right, Fig. 3, may be carried around and connected at the proper angle to the ends of the coils near such portion of the commutator, or, as shown, such connections g from the right may pass between the arms (not shown) of the spider supporting the armature on the shaft and connect to the armature leads 9' at the left-hand end, so that there will be but one set of connections to the coils of the armature. To avoid confusion but two leads, g are shown. In practice there would be one for each projection, g, of the part commutator B. It will be observed that if the nozzle to is at the bottom as shown and the connections lead directly to coils at the same angle, a pole will be formed in the armature at the bottom between the two poles of the field as desired, but as the other fluid brush formed by the nozzle ct at the right is also at the bottom the conductors from that end must make a half turn in relation to the shaft and be connected to what are then the uppercoils of thearmature. When, however, it is desired to form more than two poles in the armature, the number of nozzles in each part of the commutator is correspondingly increased. For instance, if from the pipefan additional branch be led to the second nozzle a in Fig. 4, two poles of the same polarity will be formed in the armature at points opposite where the two nozzles connect, if in such case there are also two nozzles employed in the other branch of the commutator. The latter may be arranged in relation to the commutator itself, as desired, so long as the connections to the armature from the sections receiving fluid are at right angles to the connections in the other branch of the commutator and similarly for a larger number of poles the fluid brushes connected to different armature terminals should alter- IIO nate in angular position and their connections catch the fluid as it is thrown off from the peripheries of the two parts of'the fluid commutator, and L and L are large pipes for conducting such fluid away.

The two branches of the commutator may be at the same end of the machine and may either be of the same diameter if properly separated and the conductors therefrom to' the armature properly insulated, or, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, one part, 0', of the double commutator may be larger than the other, B, and the pipes carrying the nozzles a and or enter from the same direction. In such case the portion of the commutator of smaller diameter may be nearer the armature and its conductors g be carried out as already described, when the conductors g from the larger portion of the commutator may be carried out exterior to the vanes of the other portion and the disk of the latter enlarged, as shown in Fig. 6, to support them, but these conductors must be carefully insulated, as they will cross the fluid discharging from the portion of the commutator of smallerdiameter. Evidently there cannot be as many sections to a commutator of'this form as is practicable with an ordinary commutator unless the diameter be much greater. To overcome this difficulty the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 maybe employed tomultiplythe number of commutator sections, the alternate vanes for the parts of larger and smaller diameter being connected to alternate coils of the armature and the edges of such vanes on one part set intermediate to those on the other, whereby the number of commutator sections will be doubled and the coils supplied progressively in regular order. In such case the pipe f would be transferred to a similar armature terminus of opposite sign and the outer nozzle a supplied directly from the pipe fby a connection therewith shown in dotted lines marked 2', Fig. 5. Evidently, however, the latter result may be accomplished with multiple com mutators of the same size if the vanes are set differently, and one broad jet or jets in line may supply all, care being taken in bringing out the separate connections.

As the discharge through each section of the turbine shaped commutator is in a series of detached masses of fluid, it is possible to so shape the vanes and conducting plates attached thereto that a mass of fluid which is at a given moment being discharged from one section, even if mingled with another, will not make a continuous connection back to two of the conducting plates and thereby short circuit the sections. If the turbine commutator is carefully proportioned and flow of fluid carefully regulated it is possible to use the fluid from both armature terminals in the same commutator; that is, if the fluid is carried away properly and that discharged from each section kept separated until the contact points are passed, one of the nozzles a may be at the bottom and connected to pipe f and conductor 6 and the other at the top and connected to pipe f and conductor b, and if more nozzles were used they would be alternately connected to the same armatureterminals. It is, however, considered safer to use double commutators with each part connected to only one armature terminal, so as to reduce the danger incident to short circuitingthe main conductors by masses of conducting fluid which adhere together or to the surfaces of the commutator, though if care be taken not to attempt the use of the fluid commutator until the apparatus is at speed and the provisions for throwing off. the fluid promptly by centrifugal force are well worked out, the two main armature conductors of opposite polarity may be connected by fluid streams to different points in the same commutator.

The method employed to keep the two fluid brushes electrically insulated from each other, except through the line, is shown in Fig. 9.

The illustration, on a small scale, of the principal details shown in Fig. 3 will be observed, corresponding parts being designated by similar letters. The fluid for the armature terminals is supplied from separate tanks j andj' through the pipesfandf'.

h, 72, represents valves to shut off the supply of conducting fluid to the commutators. The fluid discharged through the corn mutators is conducted through separate drain pipes L and L and collected in separate tanks k and 7a. In this particular arrangement there are mounted upon tanks 7t and separate pumps land Z which draw the fluid from such tanks through suction pipes n and n and severally deliver it through pipes m and m to the upper tanksj andj.

Any form of pump may be used for the purpose, but that form in which two cog wheels meshing together are arranged in a case to displace fluid received from a pipe below through a pipe above, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10, is well adapted for use in this location. Each pump is operated through a pulley on one of the cog wheel shafts which receives a belt from a small pulley on the armature shaft of the dynamo, such belt being preferably of rubber. The tanks j, j, and k, k and the pipes on, m, f, f and drains L, L, are all to be insulated from contact with the supporting structure and each other, the heavy lines under the tanks diagrammatically representing insulating material, The rubber belts insulate also the pumps Z, Z, from the shaft of the dynamo. It is to be understood also that the casings J, J, Fig. 3, surrounding the two portions of the commutator will be carefully insulated from contact with any metal portions of the machine and the commutator itself is to be built of non-conducting material except the contact pieces upon each of the vanes connected electrically to the coils of the armature. WVith these procautions it will be seen that there can be no electric communication between the conductors Z1 and b except through the external line which is to connectb and 19 It will beunderstood that in Fig. 9 the upper tanksj and j may be omitted, and the discharge made directly from the pumps Z and Z through pipes m, m, to pipes f and f.

The tanks j,j, and 7a, 7.1, may be used for other dynamos connected to the same line and therefore operating at the same potential, but for diiferent potentials each dynamo must be provided with complete apparatus to answer the purpose of that described.

For small installations it may be desirable not to have a separate pump for each armature terminal. A modification of Fig. 9 is shown in Fig. 11 to accomplish this purpose, in which the dynamo itself is omitted, but the pipes connecting therewith and the tanks j,j, 7.5, 7c, have identical uses. The fluid in lower tanks 7. and 7D" is discharged to a single tank K through pipes provided with cocks o and 0' with their operating handles so connected together that when one is closed the other is open. At the top another tank M is employed, provided with a special cock q to which is attached a swinging pipe 13 connected to the cavity in the plug, thus practically forming a hollow handle. The casing of the cock is at the top formed with two openings and an intermediate bridge so that fluid will enter the cavity in the cock as the pipe is swung in either direction, but be cut off when the pipe is vertical. A pump N shown of the ordinary plunger type receives fluid from the lower tank K and delivers it to the upper tank M through a pipe 0". The cocks 0 and 0 and special valve handle 13 are simultaneously shifted periodically. In the drawings, the operating handles are shown connected together by connections and bell cranks and are operated by a pin in a revolving disk 0 which moves in a slotted opening a in the connecting rod as shown; the device as a whole being intended to typify an apparatus in which the several cocks are shifted promptly at regular intervals and remain at rest or practically so during intermediate intervals. The connections are so arranged that fluid to and from only one of the armature terminals is being operated upon at one time. For instance, when fluid delivered from the pump is being discharged into the upper left-hand tank j the fluid in the left-hand lower tank 7; is being discharged into lower tank K. Under these conditions the pumping apparatus which is electrically connected by pipes, fluid and metallic connections with commutator B becomes of the potential of that terminal, but the terminal at C with the tanks j and 7t and all their connections are then cut off, it being understood that there are in the connections operating cocks 0,0 and q, and if desired in those of pump N insulating sections, marked .9, of wood or other non-conductin g material, which keep the connections continuous mechanically but not electrically. \Vhen, however,

the cooks are all shifted so that fluid is supplied from the pump N to tank j fluid is discharged from tank 71; to lower tank K and the pumping apparatus and connections have the potential of the other electric conductor 1) and commutator O, and the connections of pump to commutator B, are cut off. To perform these several motions the pump N is shown operated by a crank 25 on a wheel driven through gears, of which the pitch circles only are shown, by a pulley and belt from any external source, the belt being preferably rubber to insure insulation. A train of gearing is shown by pitch lines to operate at a slower speed the crank wheel 0 which at certain portions of its revolution through a slotted connection, a, as shown, or by a cam, shifts the valves to accomplish the purpose specified. A somewhat similar plan may be employed to collect the fluid from more than one generator, the connections being so arranged that for generators operating at different potentials the pump and connections will be electrically connected only with the tanks relating to one armature terminal.

*hen a single instead of a double commutator is used under conditions previously stated, the fluid from both armature terminals will discharge into one tank, which may be K, Fig. 11, when the tanks ink, and cooks 0, o, and connections will be omitted, but in such case parts equivalent to pump N, tanks M,j and j and special cock q must be provided to prevent short circuiting.

An arrangement similar to those above described is applicable when the armature and commutator are stationary and the field magnet revolves. In such case it simply requires that the nozzle discharging the commutating fluid revolve with the revolving field magnet.

In Fig. 13, G, G, as before, are cross sections of a ring armature; P is a revolving field magnet; D the revolving shaft; E one of the frames, and B represents a stationary commutator. In this case it is preferred that the fluid enter at one side of the commutator and be discharged at the other, so that if a ringshaped section through the center of the vanes were developed, the vanes would in general resemble the diagonal lines e, c,in Fig. 12. Q isa fitting shown in this case attached to one end of the revolving shaft D. It. is provided at its outer end with a sleeve *0 running in a stufling box R, which forms a fitting connecting to a supply pipef. The fitting Q is provided with one or more nozzles, one designated a being shown in full lines, and another designated as in dotted lines; the number of nozzles depending on the number of poles desired. The nozzles discharge horizontally into the vanes of the stationary commutator B and the fluid is to be collected by a casing S behind the same to conduct the fluid to the drain pipe L, from which the fluid is to be handled in the same way described in relation to the otherarrangements. A commutator similar to B is necessary, at the other end for instance, for the other armature terminal, unless both terminals are made in the same armature, somewhat in the manner hereinafter described in relation to Fig. 14.

The vanes e, e, are, as in Fig. 3, provided with conducting projections g, g, which connect through armature leads g, g, with the corresponding coils Hof armature. Two only of these connections are shown to avoid con- .fusion.

Mercury is preferred as a conducting fluid for the purposes herein described, when the voltage is low, or lead or other metal maintained at a melting temperature may be employed. With high voltages acidulated water or a solution of salt and water or any other fluid known to be of fair conducting power may be employed. Asemi-fluid may be used, for instance one in which filings or small particles of carbon or metal are carried through the commutator either by gravity when dry or under any desired pressure when mixed with a fluid. Most fluids being comparatively of high resistance, it will be necessary to make the fluid streams which act the part of brushes of very much greater cross section than the copper conductors carrying the same current, and it will be better even to make the section larger than that of the metal or carbon brushes ordinarily employed.

When a heavy fluid like mercury is employed as the commutating fluid, it is desirable that the stream descend vertically across the vanes e, c. This may be readily accomplished when both the armature and commutator are stationary, as in Fig. 13, by placing the commutator B in a horizontal position as in Fig. 14 and arranging the revolving nozzle Q on a vertical shaft concentric with the commutator and operating the same directly from shaft of revolving field magnet if same be vertical, or by bevel gearing V from ahorizontal revolving shaft D. The several commutator sections would of course .be connected to corresponding coils as in Fig. 13. In Fig. 14 is shown an arrangement to bring current and conducting fluid for both armature terminals through one vertical shaft to connect to the same commutator B The fluid for nozzle a is brought to fitting Q upward through a hollow in the lower part of vertical shaft W from fitting R, like that in Fig. 13. The fluid for nozzle a is brought to fitting Q downward through another hollow in the upper part of shaft W from fittingR. The shaft W must be of insulating material, or the hollows and fittings Q and Q be lined with insulating material. The arrangement shown in Fig. 14 evidently has some advantages independent of the direction of fluid; for instance, with a multi-polar machine the nozzles may be so geared that they will make one full turn for each pair of poles, and the full circle of commutator sections be connected in parallel to the corresponding groups of coils for the several multi-polar divisions. The same advantage would result by applying gearing to ordinary brushes on a stationary commutator. 1 When it is desirable to cut the current 0 the dynamo or motor shown in Figs. 3 and 9, it may be done by shutting the valves hand h, thereby stopping the flow of fluid and practically removing the brushes from the commutator, but at high potentials an arc might be established between a nozzle and commutator. It is therefore better to shut the current off in the customary way by a cut-out in one of the conductors b or b For very high potentials and heavy currents I prefer to do this with a special switch or cutout represented in Fig. 15, in which a metallic and fluid cut-out is combined. In this figure, w represents the arm of a switch and w, the handle of the same. A contact plate underneath the handle is normally in contact with the stationary plate as, and b Q is the conductor of which the switch forms part. If under these conditions the conductor b b be inserted as part of the line, one of the main conductors, b for instance, the line would ordinarily be opened by swinging the switch w to the position shown. As this would, however, in certain cases cause severe arcing, I provide in connection with this switch a fluid switch with arm 2 also represented. Apipe, f which is electrically connected to the condoctor I) is used to bring conducting fluid to a cock T, the fluid way in which is connected at one end of the plug to a swinging pipe .2, practically forming a hollow handle for the cock. The swinging pipe z is normally in the position 2' when the cockT is closed. If under these conditions the current be flowing through the switch w then in contact with the plate a; and the swinging pipe 2 forming a fluid switch be swung to the left in the position shown, thereby opening the cock T, the fluid discharged through such arm z will be spilled upon plate y, which is connected to the part b of the conductor, thereby completing a parallel electric circuit through conductor b pipe f the fluid, the plate y and the conductor b. If the handle w of the switch be thrown 06 point x, by hand or by being struck by the swinging pipe 2, all the current will pass through the fluid and no arc occur between the switch and point x, as the potential will be changed very little. If under these circumstances, however, the swinging pipe .2 be returned to the position 2;, the stream of conducting fluid will be thrown off the plate y and the circuit broken in the fluid connection. I prefer that the fluid way in the cock T shall be large enough so that the fluid will continue to flow through part of its angle of motion after it leaves the plate y, so as to keep pipe 5 cool in case an arc is established between it and the plate y. The swing of swinging pipe .2

is, however, to be made suflicient to breakthe are under all circumstances. Current may be again established by throwing the swinging pipe 2 back upon the plate'y and then moving the switch 20 to the point as the swinging pipe is moved toward .e,or the switch 20 may be operated for the purpose without using the fluid portion of the switch. This form of switch may be used in any installation where the potential is high by having the swinging arm putin parallel with an ordinary cut-out, the latter then thrown off to cause all the current to pass through the fluid and the final break made by throwing the swinging arm .2 of the fluid switch.

It will be understood that in general an armature is commuted at both terminals, that is, the points at which it is assumed the current enters and those at which it is assumed to leave are by the motion of the commutator relative to the brushes or of the brushes to the commutator progressively changed through the same angle. It is also practicable to connect permanently similar ends of all the coils and to commute the current supplied to the other ends. Such a commutation involves only the opening and closing of the circuit in the several coils successively and for this pu rpose but one brush is necessary. It should therefore be understood that the method of commutation herein provided for applies to one or more fluid brushes as required or used to secure such commutation.

The statements herein made to the eflect that the fluid nozzles and connecting pipes and the fluid streams or brushes are insulated from each other or insulated from each other except through the line are to be understood simply as putting the fluid brushes and connections in the same position as respects insulation as ordinary brushesthat is, the brushes are to be connected electrically, first by the interior line through the armature where the current is generated in the case of a dynamo or utilized in the case of a motor, and by the exterior line in which the current is utilized in the former case or from which current is received in the latter case. The term line of course includes all branches and shunts.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A method of electric commutation which consists in supplying electric current through a circulating conducting fluid at the electric terminals of an armature and in utilizing the conductivity of such fluid to successively complete and break the electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

2. A method of electric commutation which consists in supplying electric current through a circulating conducting fluid to commutator sections and in utilizing the conductivity and fluidity of such fluid to successively complete and break the electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with an electric commutator a brush formed of circulating conducting fluid arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

4. A method of electric commutation which consists in supplying electric current through a stream of conducting fluid to the commutator sections, in utilizing the conductivity of such fluid to complete and break the electric circuit and in so disposing said fluid that it can be used over again, substantially as set forth.

5. A method of electric commutation, which consists in supplying electric current through a stream of conducting fluid to each armature terminahin utilizing the conductivity of such fluid to complete and break the electric circuit and in circulating the conducting fluid separately to each terminal of the armature, substantially as set forth.

6. A method of electric commutation which consists in supplying astream of conducting fluid to the commutator sections, in utilizing the conductivity of such fluid to successively complete the electric circuit and in throwing said sections progressively out of the electric circuit by the successive action of the commutator sections on said fluid, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with direct and return electric conductors and a fluid commutator receiving fluid and therewith electric current successively upon its sections, a combined conductor for such fluid and electric current, and fluid supply apparatus insulated from the return conductor except through the line,,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

S. In combination with a fluid commutator receiving fluid in one or more parts and therewith electric current successively upon its sections, combined electric and fluid conductors of opposite polarity connected independently with fluid supply apparatus and electrically insulated from each other except through the line, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. An electric coinmutating apparatus consisting of an electric conductor, a stream of conducting fluid, of suitable means for supplying and of means for distributing the same successively to the commutator sections to complete and break the electric circuit, substantially as set forth.

10. An electric commutating apparatus consisting of an electric conductor, of a stream of conducting fluid, of suitable means for supplying and of means for distributing the same successively to the commutator sections and means for completing and breaking the electric circuit through said conducting fluid, substantially as set forth.

11. An electric commutatingapparatus consisting of a stream of conducting fluid, of means for supplying the same successively to the commutator sections, means for completing and for breaking the electric circuit, suitable electric connections, and of means for so disposing of said fluid that it can be used again, substantially as set forth.

12. An electric commutating apparatus consisting of streams of conducting fluid, of

7 means for supplying and of means for distributing the same successively to the commutator sections, means for completing and for breaking the electric circuit, suitable electric connections, and means for circulating the streams of conducting fluid separately to each terminal of the armature, substantially as set forth.

13. An anti-friction commutating apparatus consisting of a fluid electric brush, a turbine electric commutator and suitable electric, mechanical and fluid connections, substantially as set forth.

14. An anti-friction commutating appara tus consisting of a fluid electric brush, a turblne electric commutator, means for circulating the streams of conducting fluid separately to the turbines at the electric terminals of the armature and of suitable electric and fluid connections, substantially as set forth.

15. A commutatiug apparatus consisting of a circulating fluid electric brush, a commutator consisting of a series of fluid conducting channels provided with electrical conducting plates connected to corresponding armature coils and suitable electrical, mechanical and fluid connections, so arranged and operated as to successively complete and break the electric circuit through he conducting fluid, substantially as set forth.

16. Acommutating apparatus consisting of a fluid electric brush and a commutator provided With vanes of turbine-like form, such vanes being composed in part of electrical non-conducting material and in part of electrical conducting plates, all arranged relatively to the armature and so operated that the electric current through the conducting fluid will be caused to enter progressively different coils of the armature, substantially as set forth.

17. A method of electric commutation which consists in supplying electric current through a circulating conducting fluid to the commutator sections at the electrical terminals of the armature, and in circulating said fluid so that the streams from each armature terminal shall retain their separate polarity, substantially as set forth.

18. A commntating apparatus consisting of a conducting fluid, means for supplying the same successively to the commutator sections to complete and break the electric circuit, suitable electric connections and means for circulating said fluid separately to each terminal of the armatures, which consists of an arrangement of pipes from each terminal of the armature insulated from each other except through the line, and of suitable pumping apparatus, substantially as set forth.

19. In combination with combined electric and fluid conductors carrying electric current of opposite polarity severally provided with fluid supply apparatus and nozzles, each insulated from the other exceptthrough the line, a fluid commutator provided with suitable channels and drain pipes to convey and carry away commutating fluid and provided with electrical conducting portions connected to armature coils, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

20. A fluid commutator constructed of insulating material and provided with conducting armature connections at intervals, arranged in diagonal or spiral lines relative to the flow of fluid so that the latter while moving forward in the direction of its flow will retain for a time contact with the several conducting portions without breaking the stream into fragments during the time of such contact, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

21. A fluid commutator constructed in general of insulating material provided with compound vanes in part of conducting and in part of non-conducting material so arranged and operated that the fluid will smoothly follow the conducting portions of one vane until the next comes into play when such fluid will be cut off and discharged and the contact of the fluid be successively made with successive sections, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

22. A fluid commutating apparatus consisting of direct and return electric conductors with conducting fluid discharge nozzle, and fluid supplying apparatus for each, a commutator in one or more parts having a motion relative to the discharge nozzles, conducting plates in such commutator connected to the armature coils, suitable drain pipes and electrical, mechanical and fluid connections, all arranged and operated substantially as and for the purposes specified.

23. In combination with conducting fluid and with fluid supply apparatus, pipes, nozzles and electric conductors connected thereto to form armature terminals, a fluid commutator with vanes constructed substantially in turbine form with conducting portions connected to the armature, all arranged and operated substantially as and for the purposes specified.

24. In combination with a fluid commutator in one or more parts, and with suitable elec-' tric, mechanical and fluid conductors, an ordinary commutator with sections included in the circuits to the several armature coils, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

25. In combination with a fluid commutator and suitable armature connections and with nozzles and electric conductors delivering fluid and electric current to the sections of such commutator, afluid supplying apparatus and conducting fluid for each armature terminal insulated from each other, except through the line, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

26. A fluid commutator, suitable armature connections therewith, electrical conductors, nozzles delivering conducting fluid to the sections of such commutator, and conducting fluid and fluid supplying apparatus for each armature terminal in combination with pumping apparatus for keeping up the supply of fluid, and suitable valves so arranged and operated that the fluid for but one branch of the electric circuit will be operated upon at the same time thereby preventing short cir cuiting, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

27. A fluid commutator in one or more parts, A, B, suitable connections to the armature, suitable supply nozzles for fluid, suitable electric connections thereto, independent supply tanks to such nozzles, drain pipes from the parts of said commutator, one or more drain tanks to receive the fluid therefrom and suitable pumping apparatus to deliver such fluid from the drain tanks to the supply tanks, so arranged and operated as to prevent short circuiting between the two branches of the electric circuit, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

in the shaft, and mechanical, electrical and 35 fluid connections, substantially as specified.

CHAS. E. EMERY. Witnesses:

LIVINGSTON EMERY, OHAs. B. CURTIS. 

